Need Help for Elk Gun: 7mm RM or 30-06?

[ourabmen]

Hello and thanks in advance.  I am planning on going on my first Elk hunt next year in New Mexico and have found a good deal on a Tikka White Tail Hunter in both the 7mm RM and the 30-06.  Any input between these two would be very helpful.  I have shot the 06 before, but have not shot a 7mm RM.

This new gun could well be used for some white tail hunting here in Oklahoma someday to replace my .243 Ruger MK77.  I have had some experience with other magnum rounds like the .338 WM and 300 WM
and just found them to be on the un-pleasent side of the fence for my personal tastes.  

Thanks for your help and patience with a newbie.  

Sincerely,

OUrabmen

[Lawdog]

ourabmen,

First Welcome toGraybeard Outdoors.  For elk a .30-06 is a good choice although the 7mm RM is good also.  Factory ammo is somewhat cheaper for the 06' and it does have a milder muzzle blast.  You canstill get cheap ammo for practicing.  Maybe the following will help you;

7mm RM, 160 gr. at 2,950 fps., 8.5 rifle has about 23 lbs. free recoil
.30-06 Spfd., 165 gr. at 2,900 fps., 8.5 rifle has about 19 lbs. free recoil
.300 Win. Mag., 165 gr. at 3,100 fps., 8.5 rifle has about 28 lbs. free recoil

A Nosler 165 gr. Partition .30-06 load will work for any elk that walks.  If recoil bothers you a bit then go with the .30-06.  Lawdog

[ihookem]

If you reload go with the 06. The reason is with max. reloads it has just as much power as a 7mm according to some reloading manuals with less psi. Not many people know that. I have an 06 and  loads with 180 gr. not even at max it is a real kicker. Factory loads with 220 gr. it really has power. Well over 3000 ft.lbs. For deer back home, an 06 loads down real good with mild recoil. The components are cheaper too.

[Dogshooter]

I would go for the 7 mag of the two. I have both myself and the 7 has always impressed me.

[freddogs]

I perfer the 30.06 but I reload a lot. In my opinion the two calibers are similar in effectiveness and 30.06 is cheaper to reload. Both are good.

[Losthwy]

My elk/deer rifle use to be a 7mm rm but I sold it, now it is a .30-06. Yes both are good calibers, but I got tired of carrying the extra length (hanging up on brush) and weight of the 7mm rm. Plus the .30-06 is not as loud to shoot. I needed a "mountain rifle" and the 7mm rm did not fit the bill. Live and learn.

[onesonek]

There's an old saying, "when in doubt, get an 06" .

[longwinters]

I have had both.  I still have the 7mm but I do miss having an 06.  Either way you will have a good caliber that you should be pleased with.  Basically I think it comes down to how much recoil you are comfortable with.

long

[actionadv]

Having stood over several hundred harvested bull elk. I would not reccommend either. These are my reasons; elk generally never give you the perfect broadside shot needed for these calibers. They don't have the energy and bullet weight to carry through on a less than perfect shot. Especiallly on a quartering towards shots. Western terrain is big and you need a caliber that packs a punch downrange. A strongly recommend a 30 caliber mag. of some sort. I have been impressed with the 300 Rem. ultra mag. I have been in on at least a dozen bulls in last couple of years shot with this caliber. It really does the job. If you are going to hunt with a rifle you might as well have a real one.
I suppose this ruffles a few feathers, oh well, thats what I do best!

[Coyote Hunter]

OUrabmen -

My buddy and I have taken 7 elk in the last 5 years, and 6 of them were taken with 7mm Rem Mags using 160g Speer Grand Slam bullets.  All went down with one shot.

I have used the 160g Grand Slam for 20+ years and only recovered one bullet -- all the others were pass-throughs, whether at 100 yards or 350.

Nothing wrong with a .30-06, but if I was getting a .30, it would be a Win Mag.

[persistentprogrammer]

Mr. actionadv:

Please Please Please take me hunting!!!!

You name the time/place and I'll get a license. Washington sucks!

[MarkJ_Thompson]

persistentprogrammer Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 12:13 am    Post subject: I wanna go

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Mr. actionadv:

Please Please Please take me hunting!!!!

You name the time/place and I'll get a license. Washington sucks!
 

First ..Washington Hunting is Supreme...get ahold of me Persie, I will show you where to bag 'em.

Second ..Take the 30-06 and some Winchester Fail-Safe Ammo 165-180gr shoot some paper first then go to New Mexico and dispatch that Elk.

I have shot everyone of my elk with a .308WIN in Washington State..

Let us know how it turns out.

[mcrae555]

Hello

Here on my home turf in Southern BC we have big elk.  The most common calibers I have seen used and that I have used are the 30/06, 7mm Rem .Mag, and the .270.  I was mule deer hunting two years ago and I stumbled upon an elk(the seasons overlap in early sept) we have to make sure they are six points and this big boy was six so I took him with one well placed shot with my 7mm-08.  Bullet placement is the most important factor and some huge magnum that you can't shoot because you don't practice enough with it will not make up for a bad shot!  The 30/06 or 7mm Mag is plenty of gun for elk with good bullets and proper shot placement!  Yes the big magnums hit hard and are awsome elk guns but they should be left for the fella's that have the experience and time to master the recoil.  The average hunter would be better suited with a 30/06 or 7mm Mag.  Just my two cents!

McRae

[Bear Wallow]

Take an 06 because of greater frontal area and weight.  I use 180s for everything.  An 06 will do everything a 7 mag will do out to 300yds.  Don't let fools that have never shot a bear, who look at ballistic tables tell you any different. :money: